Alarming decrease in sperm quality in Nigeria, South Africa (Guardian)
Researchers in Nigeria and South Africa have raised the alarm on decreasing trend in quality of sperm in men from the two countries.
The researchers in a study titled “Trends in semen parameters of infertile men in South Africa and Nigeria” and published, last week, in the journal Scientific Reports found: “Our findings provide a quantitative evidence of an alarming decreasing trend in semen parameters in Nigeria and South Africa from 2010 to 2019. It also proves that astheno- and teratozoospermia are the leading causes of male infertility in these regions. Read more
Sudan Crisis: Nigerian evacuees finally arrive in Abuja (DailyTrust)
The first batch of Nigerians who fled the war in Sudan have returned to the country.
Due to the closure of Sudanese Airspace, the Federal Government made arrangement for them to be conveyed to Egypt by road from where they were to connect flights back home.
However, there was a major setback when the Egyptian authorities denied them access over documentation issues. Read more
Police to reconstruct 25 dilapidated Lagos barracks (Punch)
In compliance with the Lagos State Government’s recommendations on the poor condition of some police barracks that failed the structural integrity test, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Wednesday, announced plans to reconstruct 25 dilapidated barracks and facilities in the state.
The Force Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, while addressing journalists at a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said the initiative by the IG would address the long-standing issue of poor and dilapidated infrastructures within facilities occupied by police personnel.
He explained that the IG’s infrastructural development drives had led to the construction of over 198 projects, including more than 120 modern police stations, barracks, and other vital police buildings around the country. Read more
NIPOST raids unlicensed courier operators, dispatch riders in Lagos (ThisDay)
The enforcement team of the Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), last week, clamped down unlicensed courier operators, including Express, Delivery, Dispatch and Logistics operators in Lagos State, who were illegally operating without operational licence. The CLRD enforcement team carried out the raid in partnership with the men of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), and several armed mobile police officers, in company of the media that witnessed the exercise.
Part of the statutory mandate of NIPOST is to regulate, licence, and monitor the Postal, Courier, Express and Logistics industry in Nigeria, in line with the statutory provisions of Section 43 (1,2 and 3) of the NIPOST ACT.
Addressing the media shortly after the clampdown, the General Manager, CLRD, Mr. Gideon Oludotun Shonde, who represented the Postmaster General of the Federation/CEO of NIPOST, Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju, said those were arrested during the clampdown, were arrested for various offences ranging from illegal operation to under-cutting of cost to the detriment of courier and logistics business in Nigeria. Read more
NLC, TUC kick as Senate okays FG’s N22.7trn ‘Ways and Means’ (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, picked holes in the Senate’s approval of President Muhammadu Buhari’s controversial N22.72 trillion Ways and Means request, describing it as shocking and suspicious.
The Senate had, yesterday, caved into pressure and approved President Buhari’s request to restructure the sum of N22.72 trillion Ways and Means advances made to ensure the government was not shut down.
Approval creates room for suspicion—TUC
Pooh-poohing the move, TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, said: “It is ridiculous and creates room for suspicion. We don’t think this is necessary, especially on the eve of this administration’s departure. This leaves us with the question of whether governance is a continuous exercise or not.” Read more
Ex-NBA President Wali regains freedom 2 weeks after abduction (Channels)
Two weeks after his abduction, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali (SAN), has been released.
Okey Wali, the 26th President of the NBA, was abducted in the early hours of April 17, 2023, after his convoy was attacked along East–West Road, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The President of the Nigerian Bar, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), confirmed his release in a press statement on Monday. Read more
IMSU lecturer suspended for slapping female student (Tribune)
The authorities of Imo State University Owerri has suspended one of its lecturers, Desmond Izunwanne, for slapping a female student who was alleged to have arrived at a class behind schedule and in non departmental uniform.
In a statement issued in Owerri on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer of the Institution, Mr Ralph Njokuobi described the lecturer’s action as barbaric and unbecoming.
He said: “at a management meeting, the university approved the immediate suspension of the lecturer till further notice”. Read more
Missy Elliott becomes the 1st-ever female rapper admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (DailyMail)
Missy Elliott on Wednesday was named an inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the first female rapper to achieve the feat.
Elliott, 51, took to Twitter to express her excitement and gratitude at the honor, which marks the latest milestone in her storied career.
‘I want to say this is HUGE not just for me but all my Sisters in HIP HOP this door is now OPEN to showcase the hard work & what many of us contribute to MUSIC,’ she said. ‘I have cried all morning because I am GRATEFUL thank you @rockhall & all on the committee & Supafriends.’ Read more
Meta putting child users at risk, says US regulator (BBC)
The top US data privacy regulator has accused Meta, the firm that owns Facebook and Instagram, of not putting proper parental controls in place.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also said Meta should be banned from making money from children’s data.
“The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures,” it said. Meta hit back, calling the regulator’s move a “political stunt” and accusing it of overstepping its authority. Read more
Jamie Foxx breaks silence on hospitalisation with new message to fans (Today)
Jamie Foxx returned to Instagram with a short message for his fans three weeks after it was revealed that he’d been hospitalized due to a medical emergency.
In a May 3 post to his profile, the 55-year-old actor thanked his Instagram followers for their support, writing, “appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed.”
In the comments section of the post, the actor’s circle of friends and followers offered well wishes. Read more
Emma Watson teases return to acting for ‘right role’ after four-year break (Metro)
Emma Watson revealed she would return from her four-year acting hiatus if the role was ‘right’ for her and ruled out a permanent career break.
The 33-year-old Harry Potter star last appeared in the 2019 film Little Women as Meg March and hasn’t taken up any parts since then.
She is known to leave large gaps between movies and even broke away from the spotlight to study at Brown University – where she graduated from in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Read more
Billie Lourd explains why Carrie Fisher’s brother and sisters were snubbed at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony (PopCulture)
Billie Lourd released a rare statement on her family Wednesday afternoon, confirming that her uncle and aunts were not invited to Carrie Fisher’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. After Fisher’s brother Todd Fisher and sister Joely Fisher publicly wrote about not being invited to the Thursday event, Lourd explained that “they know why” they will not be there. The American Horror Story star, 30, said she has “no relationship” with her late mother’s siblings.
“I have seen the postings and press releases issued by my mother’s brother and sister,” Lourd wrote in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “I apologize to anyone reading this for feeling the need to defend myself publicly from these family members. But unfortunately, because they publicly attacked me, I have to publicly respond. The truth is I did not invite them to this ceremony. They know why.” Read more
Emilio Estevez has plans for multiple Young Guns sequels (UPI)
Emilio Estevez said he still hopes to reprise the role of Billy the Kid in a third Young Guns movie, but perhaps a fourth and fifth too. Estevez is now 60 and said there is enough historical evidence to inspire more than just Guns 3, the title listed on IMDb.
“This guy is a really fascinating character in history and I think that there’s an opportunity to not only make Part 3 but Part 4 and Part 5,” Estevez told UPI in a phone interview promoting the re-release of The Way.
Estevez said new forensic evidence suggests William Bonney was not shot and killed by Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner in 1881. Young Guns 2 addressed the question with an elderly man (Estevez) claiming to be Billy the Kid. Read more
USAID pauses food assistance to Ethiopia’s Tigray region (VOA)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced Wednesday the temporary suspension of its food assistance to the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
While describing the move as a “difficult decision,” USAID Administrator Samantha Power said the agency recently discovered that food aid intended for people of the region, who are suffering under famine-like conditions, was being diverted and sold on the local market.
The agency referred the matter to its Office of the Inspector General, which launched an investigation and sent leaders from its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to Ethiopia before deciding on a temporary pause in food aid, she said. Read more
Algeria 2023: Morocco beat Eaglets to reach quarter-finals (Punch)
Morocco earned all three points to sail into the quarter-finals of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations as the Golden Eaglets wasted a basketful of opportunities in a match they dominated for large periods in Constantine on Wednesday.
An own goal by Tochukwu Ogboji as early as the second minute was all the Moroccans, who downed South Africa’s Amajimbo 2-0 on the opening day, needed to make it within a step of booking a spot at this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup.
As it happened in their opening match against Zambia, the Eaglets created chance after chance but pathetically lacked precision in front of goal. Read more
Pep Guardiola lauds Erling Haaland after he broke the Premier League’s single season goal record (DailyMail)
Pep Guardiola challenged Erling Haaland to break his own Premier League record after the Manchester City forward rewrote the history books last night.
Haaland’s deft clip to take this game away from West Ham United was his 35th league goal of the season – surpassing a record shared by Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer.
The Norwegian now has the most goals in a top-flight season since Southampton’s Ron Davies scored 37 times in 1967. Read more
Messi set to leave PSG at end of season: reports (CBC)
Lionel Messi is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season after two years with the French club, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the Argentine great’s status.
The person said Messi’s departure was a mutual decision, with his contract effectively allowed to run down since January. Read more
Celtics dominate Sixers in Embiid’s return; series tied 1-1 (CBS)
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 121-87 on Wednesday night, spoiling the return of reigning league MVP Joel Embiid.
The Celtics tied the series at one game apiece as the Eastern Conference semifinals series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.
Malcolm Brogdon added 23 points, connecting on six of Boston’s 20 3-pointers. Derrick White and Marcus Smart added 15 points apiece. Jayson Tatum played most of the game in foul trouble and was held to seven points. Read more
Emma Raducanu to miss French Open and Wimbledon due to hand surgery (Guardian)
Emma Raducanu will miss the French Open and Wimbledon as she undergoes “minor” surgeries on both of her hands and left ankle after struggling with injuries for a prolonged period.
On Wednesday, Raducanu underwent the first of her three planned procedures – on her right hand – and she later posted a photograph of herself from her hospital bed with a cast on her hand alongside a handwritten statement on social media.
“It is safe to say the last 10 months have been difficult as I dealt with a recurring injury on a bone of both hands,” wrote Raducanu. “I tried my best to manage the pain and play through it most of this year and end of last year by reducing practice load dramatically, missing weeks of training as well as cutting last season short to try to heal it, unfortunately it’s not enough.” Read more
Tori Bowie, former Olympic track-and-field gold medalist, dead at 32 (NYPost)
Tori Bowie, a 32-year-old former Olympic track-and-field gold medalist, was found dead in Florida on Tuesday, TMZ reported.
The cause of death is unclear as of Wednesday.
Bowie’s management team confirmed her death in a statement Wednesday morning on Twitter.
“We’re devastated to share the very sad news that Tori Bowie has passed away,” Icon Management said in the statement. Read more